Defragmentation Application Hangs
Article ID: 191601
Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
This article was previously published under Q191601
SYMPTOMS
While running a defragmentation application on a volume that is formatted
as FAT, the application can cease to respond (hang), along with other
applications, and possibly the computer itself. No record of the hang will
be logged. No entry will appear in the event logs, and a Dr. Watson error
will not occur.
CAUSE
Running a defragmentation application while you actively open and close
files forces Windows NT to enter a timing window. This timing window makes
unsafe synchronization possible on the file being defragmented, and the
system hangs as it waits for the error condition to be resolved. All
defragmentation applications that use FSCTL_MOVE_FILE on FAT call are
susceptible. This error is rare in occurrence.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.
Additional query words: kbDSupport 4.00
Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbqfe KB191601